The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1887-12-08
UNDER THE OLD ROOFTREE.
A Rich New York Merchant Tells of his
Visit Home.

lately ?" shouted broker the other even
ing, to a portly, finely dressed man in th'
corridor of the st. James. The gentle
man stopped, shook hands With hi
friend, and replied, "I've been home tc
see my old father and mother, the frs
time in sixteen years, and tell you, ole
man, I wouldn't have missed that visit
for all my fortune"
"Kinder good to visit your boyhood
home, eh ?"
"You bet. Sit down. I was just think
ing about the old folks, and feel talka'
tive. If you have few moments to
spare, sit down, light a cigar and listen
to the story of rich man who had
almost forgotten his father and mother"
They sat down, and the man told his
story.
elbow / came to visit home happened
in curious way. Six weeks ago went
down TO Fire Island fishing. I had a
lunch put up at Crook & Nashe's, and
you can imagine my astonishment when
opened the hamper to find package of
crackers wrapped up in piece of news,
paper. That newspaper was the little
patent inside country weekly published
at nv home in Wisconsin. I read every
word in it, advertisements and all. There
was George Kellogg, who was a school.
mate of mine, advertising hams and salt
pork, and another boy was postmaster.
By George; it made me homesick, and I
determined then and there to 60 home,
and go home did.
"In the first place I must tell how I
came to New York. 1 had tiff with my
father and left home. I finally turned
up in New York with a dollar in my
pocket. I got job running freight
elevator in the very house in which I am
now partner. My haste to get rich
drove the thoughts of my parents from
me, and when.I did think of them, the
hard words that my father spoke to me
ranked in my bosom. Well, I went
home. I didn't see much change in
Chicago, but the magnificent new depot
in Milwaukee I thought was an improve.
ment on the old shed that they used to
have. It was only thirty miles from
Milwaukee to my home, and tell you,
John, that train seemed to creep. I was
actually worse than school boy going
home for vacation. At last we neared
the town. Familiar sights met my eyes
and, darn it ali they filled with tears.
There was Bill Lyman's red barn, just
the same; but, great Scott what were
all of the other houses? We rode nearly
s mile before coming to the depot,
through houses where only occasionally
saw one that was familiar. The town
had grown to ten times its size when /
knew it. The train stopped and I
jumped of. Not a face in sight that I
knew, and started down the platform
to go home. In the Office door stood the
station agent. I walked up and said ;:
sHowdy, Mr.. Collins? ?
"He stared at me and replied, you've
got the best of me, SIR
1T told him who I was and what I had
been doing in New York, and he didn't
make any bones in talking to me. Said
he: It's about time for you to come
home. You in New York rich, and your
father scratching gravel to get bare
living
II tell you, John, it knocked me all in
heap. I thought my father had enough
to live upon comfortable. Then notion
struck me. Before going home I tele.
graphed to Chicago to one of our CORES.
pondents there to send me 81, 900 by frat
mail. Then went to Mr.. Collins's back
Office, got my trunk in there, and put on
an old hand.me down suit that I use for
fishing and hunting. My plug hat 1
replaced by soft hat, took my valise in
my hand, and went home. Somehow the
place didn't look right. The currant
bushes had been dug up from the front
yard and the fence was gone. All the
old locust trees had been cut down, and
young naples were planted. The house
looked smaller somehow, too. But /
went up to the front door and rang the
bell. Mother came to- the door and said /:
'We don't wish to buy anything to-day,
sir
"It didn't take me a minute to survey
her from head to foot. Neatly dressed,
John, but patch aud darn here and
there, her hair streaked with gray, her
face thin, drawn, and wrinkled. Yet
over her eye glasses shone those good,
honest, benevolent eyes. I stood staring
at her and then she began to stare at nee.
saw the blood rush to her face, and with
great sob she threw herself upon me
and nervously clasped me about the neck,
Historically exclaiming: It's Jimmy, it's
Jimmy
"Then cried, too, John. lust broke
down and cried like baby. She got me
into the house, hugging and kissing me
and then she went to the back door and
shouted "Georgep'
"Fsther came in moment, and from
the kitchen asked, what you want, Car
oline?'
"Then he came in. He knew me in a
moment He stuck out his hand and
grasped mine, and said, sternly, Well,
young man do you propose to behave
yourself now?'
"He tried to put on brave front, but
be broke down. There we three sat, like
whipped school children, all whimpering.
At last supper time came and mother
went out to prepare it. I went into the